aoi hoshi

"I think she's waiting for you," Riku said, nudging the blond boy forward. "Don't just think, act." He thought about Lightning when he said that as well. I can't pretend any longer. I need to just let her know how I feel before it's too late. Pulling gently at her locks, Naminé tried to keep her eyes from meeting his as a blush spread across the apples of her cheeks. "Right. I'll...go to him now. B-But you and Riku need to talk too, okay? You deserve to be happy too." Hearing Lightning mention that Roxas had been admiring her sent a small boost of confidence through her. She had to believe in herself. If everyone else saw it, then it couldn't be in her head.

"You and Sora," Riku said to himself quietly, but he couldn't say that he didn't feel the same about Light. Whatever he needed to do to make her smile, he would. It wasn't even a question at this point. The boy just hoped that his own past wouldn't cause a rift between them; she had never said anything directly, but the topic of the keyblade always seemed to elicit a dark expression. "Yeah," Naminé agreed with a more dream-like smile etching itself onto her lips, "He's the best. We...trust each other." She couldn't quite explain their full history to the pink haired girl, but there was a heaviness to the statement. A weight that conveyed a deeper meaning.

"I should probably take my own advice though," Riku chuckled, "But you and Naminé are good together. I can tell she's happy when she's around you. I think you make her feel less lonely." Riku thought about his time in Castle Oblivion. Naminé had been sweet, but there was a visible pain too. I get that from Light too. Though he knew it was due to her history. Naminé shook her head and smiled. "It's okay. I understand how you feel. Telling someone how you feel can be hard, but he likes you too, Lightning. I'm not as close to Riku as Sora and Kairi, but I know how happy you make him. You two are perfect for one another."

"Nah, I'd say you were worse," Riku joked, though it wasn't untrue. Sora and Kairi were, of course, extremely obvious about their affections towards one another, but Roxas and Naminé seemed to already have moved towards being a couple. Their behavior towards one another was similar to an actual couple minus the actual status. "We all know Sora and Kairi have feelings for one another, but it's like...It's hard to explain, but you two already seem to know exactly what you want." "No," Naminé replied glumly. Her brows then furrowed. "Have you told Riku your feelings?" Those two were basically a couple too. They just needed to make it official.

Riku snorted. Was Roxas really not aware of Naminé's feelings for him? She wasn't exactly subtle either. "Of course I'm serious. Are you blind? She has it just as bad for you as you have it for her. Plus," Riku added with a smirk, "You already act like a couple most of the time anyway. Might as well make it official." Naminé stiffened but quickly deflated. She couldn't hide it from Lightning; the pink haired girl saw right through her. Moving away from the fountain, Naminé sighed and met Lightning's blue eyes. "...Yes. I...I just want to be with him," Naminé confessed.

Riku poked Roxas in the chest. "You need to just tell her how you feel. If you don't soon, she'll start to think that she's the only one who has any feelings and well..." Riku shrugged. "move on." Riku knew the blonde's heart would belong with Roxas, but it didn't mean that she would or could wait forever either. "Huh? Oh, workout?" Naminé giggled nervously. She bent down to sip at the water fountain again, keeping her expression as invisible as possible from the older girl. "It's fine. It's going really well. Perfect. I feel stronger already."

Riku tried to hold in his laughter but failed miserably; he rubbed his arm instinctively despite the blow being relatively light. "What? Did I interrupt your 'work out' session?"

"I didn't know that's how you did triceps," Riku teased, "seems awful close to me." Inwardly, he snickered at Roxas's crimson cheeks. He wondered how much more of a push the blond would really need at this point? Naminé was obvious about her own affections as well. Naminé coughed and looked away from the two boys. Had it been that obvious? Had she, as the saying went, worn her heart on her sleeve? "I'm going to go get a drink of water real quick." The water fountain was on the other side the gym.

Naminé closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of his touch. She wanted to confess. She wanted to kiss him, but-- "Whew, is it getting hot in here or is it just me?" Riku interrupted with a dramatic whistle. He clapped Roxas on the shoulder, his voice little more than a whisper. "You need to confess soon, dude. Checking her out all day won't get you far." Riku then pulled back to offer Naminé a kind smile. "Work out time?" Naminé, her face crimson, nodded hastily. "Um, y-yes! We were just about to...I mean um..." She wasn't sure what to say. They were about to kiss, right? Or was that simply her imagination?

"Alright, see you in a few then," Riku called back over his shoulder. Her touch was brief but left a warm buzz across his skin (like it always seemed to). From where he was standing, he could see the two blondes gravitating closer and closer to one another. Were they aware of the tension they were creating in the room? How people watched them with prying eyes? "You don't owe me," Naminé said, taking a step towards him. She was sure they looked strange like this. So close as if they were about to embrace or even kiss. The latter thought created a fluttering sensation in her chest. "I wanted to help you."

Riku squeezed her hand back. "I think I owe it to him," Riku snorted, shaking his head at the boy's antics. He really needed to confess soon. Riku wasn't sure how much more even he could take with how obvious the two were being. Almost as bad as Sora and Kairi. "I appreciate your willingness to volunteer," Naminé replied with a giggle. He would definitely be part of her portfolio project. The artist needed at least a few portraits of another person, so Roxas would be perfect for that. He was already her muse in many ways, even if he didn't know it.

He took her hand and shook it tightly. "Agreed. It's a date then." He added the last part with a small smirk playing at his lips. It really was a win-win situation for him. Spend time with Light or spend time with Light. It was strange how one girl could make him feel this way. His crush on Kairi seemed so distant now. As if it hadn't happened at all with how intense his feelings towards Lightning were. Was this what love was supposed to be? Her eyes brightened at the suggestion. "Sure!" she chirped, "You can help me work on a new project for class. I'm trying to create a portfolio of pieces for the art exhibition in spring semester too." The latter was a daunting task especially. Naminé loved to draw, but the volume her professor expected was intimidating to the girl who had only just begun to understand her style and enjoyment of the past time.

"And if you win, what's your prize?" Riku asked. Light always seemed to come up with fun prizes for their little bets, but he secretly hoped she'd want the same thing. Or at least something that involved spending time together. "I suppose," she mused, completing one more rep before letting the weights settle again. The blonde stretched her arms and rolled her neck a little. "I'm just impressed you're able to do so much. The only muscle I have is in my hands I think." Or at least that's what made sense to her with the amount of drawing she did.

"Hmm," Riku pretended to think about it for a minute before giving her a mischievous smile, "I think I'd like gun lessons this time, and the chance to teach you a few things about swords." Lightning was extremely talented with a gun, so the chance to learn from a pro would be a great boon to the boy. Plus, any time spent with Lightning made him happy. "This is a lot of work," Naminé said between breaths, "I don't know how you can do so many reps." She tried not to focus too hard on how his skin brushed against hers.

"And what would be the prize this time?" Riku asked with an eyebrow raised. He really did enjoy their bets. It seemed to let Light relax and have fun with him; two things Riku cherished dearly when it came to the pink haired girl.

"Definitely before the semester ends," Riku agreed. It was funny to see how much the two cared for one another. Or maybe ironic was the right word? They were Sora and Kairi's Nobodies, but even after becoming their own persons, they were still drawn to one another. Like magnets. Like him and Lightning. They had gone on a few dates now, but they weren't 'together' yet. And I want to be... The silver haired boy had wracked his brain for possible ways to broach the subject, but each one only embarrassed him more.

"Alright! Let's keep going then!" Naminé cheered eagerly. She was excited to be able to build a routine together. It was something they could do everyday too (or at least often). Riku followed Lightning's gaze and snickered. Roxas was definitely enjoying himself. He was also most definitely the envy of many of the gym's attendees. "How long do you think it'll be before they get together?"

Naminé saw his expression in the mirror and smiled back. He really was amazing. He understood her, was patient with her...He saw her in a way that no one else ever has or ever could. He was her knight in shining armor and yet, also her most trusted companion. Would a relationship change that? The idea of losing him scared her, but it was almost more frightening to think of what might happen if she didn't take that leap? "Anything else we should work on?"

The moment he moved away from her, the fire dancing across her skin died into embers. His touch was still there, but it was now faint, fading into a mere memory. She wanted to stay like forever. But how does he even feel about any of this? Naminé chided herself. She couldn't be selfish. This wasn't just about her feelings or wants even though he was what she wanted. "Am I getting it now?" she asked with back straight and elbows close.

"O-Okay," she repeated, feeling fire spread across her limbs from his touch. She watched his expression in the mirror. He was looking at her now right? What was he thinking? Was he comparing her to another girl?

Naminé inhaled sharply as his nose skimmed her ear, but it wasn't from fear. She liked him this close to her. Relished it even. "Like this," she repeated, following his instructions. His cologne wafted over to her, overloading her with his scent. He smells so good. Did he always smell this good?

Naminé felt her breath escape her the second his hands were at her hips. The heart she wasn't supposed to have beat wildly and her mouth became dry as she felt her body move. His fingers were calloused, but there was a comfort to the roughness of his skin. An indication of the power he had to protect those dear to him. In the mirror, she saw their reflection, but also something else--a future. They looked good together. Perfect even. She wanted to keep that image. "Um...right. Thank you."

"Shoulders width apart," Naminé mumbled to to herself, trying to adjust her body into the correct stance, "Back straight..." She knew she wasn't doing everything correctly, and the idea of pain wasn't too appealing. "This is harder than it looks..."

Naminé, who had been looking down at her phone, popped back up instantly when she saw Roxas approach. "Ready?" she chirped. Sweat still clung to her forehead, but the burning feeling had finally died down a little in her legs.

Naminé stopped the machine, the track slowing until it was still again. "Sounds good. I'll sit over by the bench." She watched him leave for a minute before tearing her eyes away with a blush that wasn't due to her recent jogging stint. She wondered if he realized how attractive he was? Other girls beside herself certainly did. There was just something about the way he carried himself too. So confident and self-assured. It made her feel safe.